By : Alfred Jigibalom )*
The government needs to take serious action against the Terrorist Separatist Group (KST) which commits heinous acts against civil society. These various actions have caused a commotion which resulted in material losses and loss of life.
Law enforcement against KST needs to be done for the sake of a peaceful and safe Papua from all troubling disturbances. Various ways really need to be done to end the violence perpetrated by KST in Papua, including the persuasive approach. In fact, dialogue efforts for peace in Papua have been made with many parties. However, only KST showed an uncooperative attitude.
The Coordinating Minister (Menko) for Law and Security (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said that enforcement of KST needs to be done, because the group has damaged harmony in the midst of societal peace.
This was also Mahfud MD’s response to accusations from a church organization which stated that the government had never responded to requests for dialogue regarding the resolution of the Papuan conflict.
This was previously stated by the Coordinator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (KPKC) Synod of the Gospel Christian Church (GKI) Synod of the Gospel Church (GKI) Tanah Papua, Dora Balubun.
Responding to what was stated by Dora, Mahfud said that the government had repeatedly conducted dialogue. Not only with church leaders, but also all elements of organizational institutions in Papua, such as indigenous peoples, DPRD, and the Papuan People’s Council (MRP).
Mahfud emphasized that the government is committed to continuing to protect Papua so that it remains an integral part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, both politically, constitutionally and in international law.
Mahfud MD also said that the government also remains true to its commitment to developing Papua peacefully. Moreover, this has also been written in presidential instruction (Inpres) Number 9 of 2020.
The existence of KST in Papua with all its depraved actions so far has certainly created an endless sense of fear for the people of Papua. It is not wrong for Papuans to become inflamed and express their jealousy towards their compatriots and fellow countrymen in other areas who are allowed to enjoy the dynamics of normal life without fear from the sudden attack from KST.
The brutal acts of KST have made the Papuan people even more miserable, this is because the attacks from KST have stopped people’s activities. This shows that acts of terror in Papua can stop community activities such as buying and selling.
Papuan civil society definitely wants peace in Papua without the sound of bullets from KST’s weapons. The security forces, both TNI and Polri, have a duty to eradicate KST with the aim that the Papuan people can live their lives safely without any terror.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chair of the Cartenz Peaceful Operations Public Relations Task Force, AKBP Arif Irawan stated that his party was paying attention to the series of KST attacks in December 2022. Moreover, they had been determined to carry out attacks on the Yapen Islands where there had never been any shooting incidents before. Currently the Carstensz Peace Task Force maintains public order and security, starting from the smallest environment.
KST members always throw accusations of espionage to be able to attack civilians. It was recorded that they had also shot a motorcycle taxi driver because they were suspected of being police intelligence. However, these accusations could not be proven because the police denied them. They shoot other people indiscriminately, even though their status is the same as Papuans who live and breathe the breath of paradise. Just because of unfounded suspicion, they are willing to pull the trigger to kill someone they don’t know.
For the various troublesome incidents perpetrated by KST, of course it is enough reason that KST deserves to be eradicated because this group does not get any sympathy from the public.
The people who were invited by KST to join OPM and defected because of their loyalty and love for the motherland. The people of Papua and West Papua really yearn for peace, economic activity, worship and social life in general to run safely and securely.
What has been done by KST seems to have only undermined the happiness of the Papuan people. The heinous actions of these armed gangs only hinder the development that is being promoted by the government.
Development in Papua can of course be hampered if the area becomes a KST nest to spread threats and terror. Naturally, then civilians in Papua would support the arrest of KST members. This is because the people are tired of the various acts of the KST which often spread terror.
Security is an important thing to support development, especially in Papua, but the existence of KST is also an obstacle to development, where KST often sends threats and provocations to the Papuan people not to join Indonesia. The government needs to be firm in eradicating KST for the sake of mutual comfort and security.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Bali